NintendoForce

Issue #40: Getting Schooled – July/August 2019

Added 2019-06-25 02:22:43 +0000 UTC

The 40th issue of Nintendo Force is complete! It's the latest major milestone for our magazine as we roll on through our seventh calendar year of keeping the legacy of Nintendo game coverage alive in print form. And it's all thanks to you, our readers! Without your support and your patronage, we never could have come so far. Thank you!

The timing of hitting this mark lines up so well with the territory we were in when we first began that we just had to make this edition a callback, of sorts, to our first. If you'll recall, way back in January 2013, the first-ever issue of NF put Fire Emblem Awakening on its front cover. The FE series hasn't been back in our spotlight since then, but we're coming full-circle now with Fire Emblem: Three Houses stepping up for this edition!

But though the games are just about six and a half years apart from one another and both a part of the same series, Awakening and Three Houses are separated from each other quite a bit in theme, presentation and gameplay. Awakening was primarily a 2D adventure, with just quick scenes showing off 3D models of its heroes and villains; Three Houses is the fully 3D return of the brand to TV screens. Awakening was traditional in most respects when it came to gameplay; Three Houses throws in tons of new wrinkles and layers and kicks old staple elements of the series to the curb. And most prominently in focus for us here in this issue, the setting: Awakening was chiefly a time-travel tale, whereas Three Houses is all about going to school!

Huh? A school? In a Fire Emblem game? It's a unique new approach for sure, and such a surprising one that it captured our attention for more detailed evaluation in this NF edition. So this issue is entitled "Getting Schooled!" Even though it's summer break for most of our readers, we'll be torturously reminding you all about grand institutions of education all throughout the pages of this edition. See how many references to schools, teachers and students you can find as you flip through – it's a more common thread in gaming than you might have realized!

And then pay special attention to our central feature, "Fire Emblem: An Introductory Course." We're pleased to welcome the hero of Three Houses and newest professor at the Officer's Academy, Byleth, as a guest writer! He will give you a tour of the Fire Emblem series and get you prepared to play it for the first time (if you're new), or help you brush up (if you're not).

Digital subscribers, as usual, you're up first. I'll be sending out the download link to grab the digital version of this issue on Wednesday this week. That's June 26, exactly one month before the Fire Emblem: Three Houses release date of July 26. Seems like a good mark to hit.

Print subscribers, your physical copies and wall posters are in production as we speak. They'll be mailed out and should make it to most mailboxes in early-to-mid July. Still giving everyone plenty of time to read it cover to cover before Three Houses hits store shelves!

And that's all from me this time. Now to get to work on #41!

~ Lucas M. Thomas